Combined cryosurgical, chemotherapeutic, and radiotherapeutic management of T1-4N0M0 oral cavity cancers.

Eighty-four previously untreated patients (69 males, 15 females) with squamous carcinoma of the tongue (30 patients), floor of the mouth (30), cheek (16), and retromolar region (8) were treated using a protocol comprising cryosurgery + chemotherapy, followed by external 60Co radiotherapy. The follow-up period was at least 6 months (median, 50 months). Cryosurgery (1-2 sessions in 49 T1-2 cases; 2-4 in 35 T3-4 cases) was accompanied by a CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil) schedule (T1-2, two courses; T3-4, three courses). Radiotherapy was given 15 to 20 days after combined cryochemotherapy (T1, 50 Gy on tumor and lymph nodes; T2-3-4, same with an extra dose of 10 to 15 Gy on the primary lesion). Complete remission was reached 4 months after treatment in 76 of 84 patients (90.5%). Survival with no evidence of disease (NED) in the 57 patients (27 T1-2, 30 T3-4) with a follow-up of more than 3 years was 59.6% for the series as a whole, 70.3% for T1-2, and 50.0% for T3-4; 78.2% for the tongue, 52.6% for the floor, 66.6% for the cheek, and 0% for the retromolar region. The picture was much the same after 5 years. Actuarial survival at 6 years was 66% in the series as a whole, 75.5% in T1-2, and 57.5% in T3-4 (tongue 86.9%, floor 56.1%, cheek 68.4%, and retromolar region 0%). It is believed that the results obtained in tumors of the tongue, floor and cheek, coupled with the conservative aspects of the protocol, make it a suitable subject for a controlled trial.